Is It Addiction or a Mental Health Disorder?

Many times, addiction and mental illness go hand-in-hand. Unfortunately, many people who struggle with an untreated mental health disorder may turn to drugs to cope. Likewise, many people struggling with addiction may develop a mental health disorder because of the debilitating effects of addiction. If you are unsure if you are struggling with an addiction or a mental health disorder, keep reading.

Outpatient LA is a leading outpatient drug rehab in Los Angeles that is here to help as many clients as possible overcome addiction and achieve lasting sobriety. We understand that no two recovery journeys are ever the same. That’s why we offer a comprehensive range of California drug and alcohol rehab programs so you can receive the right care for your unique recovery needs. Contact us today!

Signs You Are Struggling with Addiction

Addiction is a debilitating disease that can harm your health and quality of life for the worse. Addiction impacts your brain chemistry and causes you to develop a dependency on the substance or behavior you are addicted to. Unfortunately, many people who abuse addictive substances are inevitably at a heightened risk of developing a drug addiction.

If you are unsure of whether or not you are struggling with a drug addiction, below are several common signs to look out for:

  • Being unable to quit abusing a drug or alcohol
  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you don’t consume the drug
  • Developing a tolerance such that you need to consume more to achieve the desired effect
  • Engaging in riskier behavior than usual 
  • Being in denial or defensive of your drug or alcohol abuse
  • Obsessing over the next time you’ll be able to use the drug

Along with the above signs, you’ll also likely be struggling with general physical and mental health decline, from a lack of motivation and energy to an overall decline in work or school performance.

Signs You Are Struggling with a Mental Health Disorder

There is a wide variety of mental health disorders. It’s critical to first understand that each type of mental health disorder has its own set of unique signs and symptoms. In general, if you suspect you may be struggling with a mental health disorder, below are several signs and symptoms you should look out for:

  • Mood changes
  • Significant sleep changes
  • Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed 
  • Lack of energy or motivation
  • Decline in work or school performance

Are You Struggling with a Co-Occurring Disorder?

If you are struggling to know if you are suffering from an addiction or a mental health disorder, you may have a co-occurring disorder. This means that you may be struggling with a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder at the same time.

Many people who struggle with an addiction are also at risk for suffering from a mental health disorder (and vice versa). In fact, according to SAMHSA, around 21.5 million adults in the United States have a co-occurring disorder. If you suspect you are struggling with a co-occurring disorder, it’s critical you seek a professional diagnosis so you can receive the right support for your exact recovery needs. This is because people diagnosed with a co-occurring disorder need to seek treatment for both their conditions at the same time. Otherwise, failure to treat one condition but not the other can increase their risk of relapsing. 

Help Is Available 

Millions of people struggle with addiction and mental illness each year. Whether you are struggling with a substance use disorder, mental illness, or co-occurring disorder, it’s critical you seek the professional support you need to safely and effectively recover and lead a healthier, happier life. You should never feel alone when it comes to receiving the help you need to treat your addiction or a mental health disorder.

At Outpatient LA, our team of addiction specialists are here to help you every step of the way on your road to recovery. We offer a wide variety of addiction treatment options and programs to meet you right where you are on your recovery journey. Contact us today to learn more about how we can best support your recovery journey.

The Importance of Investing in Resources for Long-Term Sobriety

Relapsing is the main threat to achieving long-term sobriety. Around 40-60% of people treated for substance use disorders relapse.  This staggering statistic highlights that overcoming addiction and seeking treatment doesn’t guarantee life-long sobriety. However, fortunately, there are various resources for long-term sobriety from seeking counseling to attending support groups that can support your recovery journey. Keep reading to learn why investing in these resources is so important to your recovery journey’s success.

At Outpatient LA, we are an outpatient drug rehab in Los Angeles committed to helping as many patients as possible achieve life-long sobriety. We understand that every recovery journey is unique. That’s why we offer a wide range of addiction treatment in Beverly Hills so you can receive the individualized care you need to best support your recovery journey. Ready to break free of addiction for good? Contact us today!

5 Reasons Why Investing in Resources for Long-Term Sobriety is Important 

Investing in resources for long-term sobriety is critical. From seeking professional treatment to help you detox to going to therapy, there are a number of reasons why these resources are crucial to your sobriety journey. 

Prevents Your Risk of Relapse

First, investing in resources for long-term sobriety helps you not only overcome addiction but stay sober. The greatest threat to your sobriety journey is relapsing. To reduce your risk of relapsing, it’s important you seek professional treatment to safely and effectively detox. And it’s also important to continue to seek treatment after you overcome addiction so you have coping strategies in place you can use to reduce your risk of jeopardizing your sobriety. 

Helps Rebuild Relationships

Next, it’s important to invest in resources that will help you rebuild relationships you may have hurt while you were struggling with addiction. This is because you’ll need a supportive network of friends and family members behind you who will support you as you progress along your recovery journey. Investing in family therapy can be a great way to help rebuild these relationships with others. 

Improves Your Health and Quality of Life

When you become sober, you are committing to a healthier, happier quality of life for yourself. Therefore, investing in resources like gym memberships or workout classes that help you continue on your path to living that healthy lifestyle is also important to maintaining long-term sobriety. 

Targets Mental Health Issues

Your mental wellness can significantly impact your long-term sobriety. Therefore, it’s important to address any underlying mental health issues you may have by going to therapy. Talking with a licensed mental health professional will help you target any mental health issues you may have and ensure you are healthy both mentally and physically as you progress along your sobriety journey. 

Raises Accountability and Motivation 

Last but not least, whether you invest in continued outpatient treatment, seek counseling, or attend a support group, all these resources further help support your long-term sobriety. These resources keep you accountable and motivate you to continue to strive to lead a healthy and happy life. 

No two recovery journeys are ever the same. That’s why what resources you invest into your long-term sobriety journey may look a little different than someone else recovering from addiction– and that’s normal! It’s important to keep surrounding yourself with people and resources that motivate you to maintain your sobriety rather than tempt you to fall back into old unhealthy habits. 

Top-Rated Outpatient Addiction Treatment Center

As you can see, investing in resources for long-term sobriety is not just important to reduce your risk of relapse, but it also helps your overall physical and mental well-being. Your addiction recovery journey, without a doubt, will be filled with ups and downs. Yet, by investing in outpatient care, counseling, support groups, and relationships you may have fractured while an addict, all these factors can help support your ability to achieve long-term sobriety. 

At Outpatient LA, our team is here to help you every step of the way on your road to recovery. Addiction is a complex brain disease that can damage virtually all areas of your life for the worse. Yet, if you are struggling with addiction, you don’t have to suffer in silence for the rest of your life. We offer comprehensive treatment plans to support your unique recovery journey. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you on your road to recovery.

The Power of Self-Compassion in Recovery

Addiction is a damaging disease that can destroy not just your physical health but also your self-confidence and compassion. Addiction can bring about great shame and guilt; however, it’s critical you develop self-compassion in recovery so you can let go of past regrets and welcome the healthier, happier version of yourself. Keep reading to learn more about why the power of self-compassion in recovery is so important. 

Outpatient LA is a top-rated outpatient drug rehab in Los Angeles that’s helped many patients safely and effectively achieve lasting sobriety. We understand that every addict’s recovery journey is going to look uniquely different. We offer a range of Beverly Hills addiction treatment options so you can receive personalized care to achieve sobriety. Contact us today to learn more about how we can best support your recovery. 

5 Ways Self-Compassion Can Help Your Recovery Journey 

Developing self-compassion is critical along your road to recovery. Not only does self-compassion allow you to let go of your past mistakes, but it also helps you build confidence so you can maintain your sobriety long-term. Below are ways in which the power of self-compassion in recovery can improve your recovery journey. Self-compassion:

Quiets Your Inner Critic

First, the power of self-compassion in recovery allows you to quiet your inner critic in your head. Negative self-talk and being highly critical of yourself and others can be damaging to your recovery journey and mental health in general. While you still want to maintain a sense of accountability and set boundaries to maintain your sobriety, self compassion allows you to positively improve your recovery journey rather than being hyper-critical of yourself. 

Boosts Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem 

Self-compassion in recovery also helps boost your self-confidence and self-esteem, which is important in maintaining long-term sobriety. Research found that people struggling with addiction experience lower levels of self-esteem. Fortunately, exercising self-compassion for yourself and how far you’ve come along your road to recovery will help grow your confidence in yourself. Not only will you be able to reflect upon your progress, but you’ll be able to use this progress as motivation to create more positive change in your life as you start to live a life free from the chains of addiction. 

Enhances Ability to Set Boundaries

Self-compassion in recovery also helps you strengthen your ability to set healthy boundaries. This is because no longer will you see setting boundaries as an annoyance but as a necessary step to maintain your health and happiness. This is because when you are kind and compassionate to yourself, you no longer are willing to put up with unhealthy thoughts, experiences, or people who have the potential to cross your boundaries and jeopardize either your recovery journey or your mental health and well-being. 

Releases Any Guilt or Shame From Your Past

Self-compassion in recovery also helps you release any guilt or shame for your past self. Forgiveness and compassion are closely interconnected in that you cannot exercise compassion for yourself and others if you are not willing to forgive yourself and others. In being able to forgive yourself for your past mistakes and addiction, you are letting go of feelings of pain, shame, and guilt that can keep you from truly living the free, fulfilling, and happy life that you deserve to live. 

Helps You Your Unique Recovery Journey 

Finally, the power of self-compassion in recovery allows you to embrace your own unique recovery journey. Comparison and seeing how far peers have come in their own recovery journeys can sometimes make you question your personal progress. However, being kind to yourself and acknowledging all the progress you’ve made in recovery will help you keep moving in the right direction and maintain lifelong sobriety. 

Time to Break Free of Addiction 

As you can see, self-compassion in recovery is powerful because it not only helps boost your self-confidence but enables you to release any shame or guilt so you can effectively progress along your sobriety journey. Hanging on to negative thoughts and feelings of your past life not only will hinder your progress but can potentially jeopardize your recovery journey and make you turn back to old unhealthy habits.

If you are struggling with addiction, help is available. At Outpatient LA, our compassionate team is here to help you every step of the way on your road to recovery. Gone are the days of suffering in silence with your addiction. We offer a range of treatment programs and options so you can take back control of your health and quality of life. Contact us today to learn how we can help you develop self-compassion in recovery.

Tips for Healthy Coping Skills in Recovery

Addiction recovery is filled with many ups and downs. Even if you receive treatment, it doesn’t mean you are guaranteed to achieve lifelong sobriety. Nearly 40-60% of individuals who receive substance use disorder treatment relapse at some point in time. Relapsing is a recovering individual’s biggest threat to long-lasting sobriety. Fortunately, there are healthy coping skills for addiction you can use to effectively fight against triggers and cravings to relapse. Keep reading to learn coping skills in recovery you can use to help maintain your sobriety.

Outpatient Los Angeles is a premier outpatient drug rehab in Los Angeles that is committed to helping clients safely and effectively achieve sobriety. Our compassionate team of addiction specialists is here to help you every step of the way on your road to recovery. We offer a wide variety of outpatient addiction treatment in Beverly Hills so you can receive the right care for your recovery journey. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you overcome addiction. 

7 Tips for Healthy Coping Skills in Recovery

Learn to Communicate Your Feelings

Attending support groups and communicating your feelings with others you trust for support can help maintain your sobriety long-term. Rather than bottling up your emotions and struggles, communicating your feelings helps you connect and relate to others. Whether it’s in a support group with people who can relate to what you’re going through, or among loved ones who are there to love and support your recovery journey, communicating your feelings can help you feel supported in maintaining your sobriety. 

Try Journaling to Get Your Thoughts Down

Journaling is another healthy coping skill in recovery you can use to get your thoughts down on paper. Rumination and constantly sitting with negative thoughts can be damaging to not just your mental health, but also put your sobriety at risk. Therefore, next time you are struggling with negative self-talk and can’t immediately talk to a trusted loved one or friend about it, consider writing down your thoughts. 

Attend Therapy

Even if you’ve been sober for years, attending therapy can serve as another highly effective coping skill to help maintain your recovery. Meeting with someone who is a licensed professional will ensure you are receiving expert guidance to effectively progress along your road to recovery. 

Establish a Healthy Support System

Your friends and family are another vital component of your sobriety journey. You should never feel like you have to progress along your road to recovery alone. Establishing a healthy support system of loved ones, peers, and mentors allows you to reach out to people for support when you’re struggling so you can reduce your risk of relapsing. 

Prioritize a Healthy Lifestyle

Next, it’s important to prioritize a healthy lifestyle, which includes getting quality sleep each night, eating a well-balanced diet, and exercising consistently. A healthy lifestyle will ensure you are living a balanced lifestyle to best support your road to recovery. 

Invest in Activities and Hobbies You Love

Doing activities and hobbies you love are more healthy coping skills in recovery you can turn to support your sobriety. Whether it be running, hiking, swimming, painting, or reading, there are endless sober activities you can do that are not only fun, but will help you lead a healthier, happier life free from the chains of addiction. 

Practice Self-Care

Last but not least, it’s important you practice self-care often on your sobriety journey. Even if you have been sober for years, it’s important to take time out of your day, even if it’s for five to 10 minutes, to check in with yourself and how you’re feeling. Otherwise, failure to address feelings causing your stress can eventually lead you to turn back to old unhealthy habits to cope with those negative feelings. 

Help Is Available 

Coping skills in recovery and beyond are essential for maintaining long-term sobriety. This is because inevitably at some point in your recovery journey you’ll be faced with cravings to abuse drugs, which can put your sobriety in jeopardy. However, with coping skills in addiction recovery, you can learn how to work through cravings and maintain your sobriety without falling back into old habits.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is available. At Outpatient Los Angeles, we offer a comprehensive range of California outpatient drug and alcohol rehab programs so you can receive individualized support for your unique recovery needs. You should never feel too ashamed or afraid to ask for help in leading a happier, healthier life. Contact us today so we can help you on your recovery journey.

Rebuilding Self-Esteem in Recovery: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Healing

Research has found that individuals involved with addiction have lower self-esteem compared with the “ordinary” person. Unfortunately, addiction is a cyclic process that continues to hurt self-esteem for the worse. Those who turn to drugs because of struggles with self-esteem then continue to have low self-esteem because of their addiction.

However, you don’t have to struggle with low self-esteem and addiction for the rest of your life. In this article, you’ll learn five ways you can build self esteem in recovery.

At Outpatient LA, we are a top-rated outpatient drug rehab in Los Angeles that is here to help as many patients as possible achieve lasting sobriety. Our comprehensive addiction treatment in Beverly Hills  includes a range of treatment options so you can receive the right care for your recovery needs. Contact us today to learn more about how you can break free of addiction once and for all.

How to Rebuild Self-Esteem in Recovery

Low self-esteem can negatively impact your health, quality of life, and recovery journey for the worse. Unfortunately, many people struggling with addiction experience low self-esteem, making it that much more difficult to achieve long-term sobriety. However, if you are struggling with addiction and low self-esteem, there are several ways you can rebuild self-esteem in recovery so you can take back control of your life for good. 

Challenge Negative Self-Talk

Negative self-talk is extremely dangerous. It can be difficult to recognize your ruminating negative thoughts unless you are aware of your own thought patterns. Therefore, it’s important to challenge negative self-talk in order to start rebuilding self-esteem in recovery. 

Sometimes, it can be difficult to recognize that you are struggling with negative thinking; therefore, consider keeping a journal or writing in the notes app of your phone whenever you recognize yourself spiraling to get your thoughts down on paper, rather than letting these thoughts linger in your mind. 

Practice Positivity

Next, it’s important to replace that negative self-talk with positive thinking. Rather than saying “I’m not good enough” or “No one likes me,” replace those negative thoughts with positive thoughts and actions. In other words, shift your thoughts toward something positive and uniquely special about yourself. 

Avoid Situations that Negatively Impact Your Self-Esteem

Some situations, people, or events may trigger and negatively impact your self-esteem. For example, being around negative people that are self-conscious and critical about themselves and others can easily impact your own self-esteem for the worse. Therefore, be aware of the situations and people you surround yourself with to protect your self-esteem in recovery and beyond.

Forgive Yourself and Others

Forgiveness is a critical component of building your self-esteem. Not only is it important to forgive yourself in recovery, but it’s also important to forgive others who may have hurt you in your past. Carrying feelings of anger, resentment, or sadness with you will only keep your self-esteem low and prevent you from becoming the healthiest, happiest version of yourself.

Seek Professional Help to Heal

And, last but not least, you should seek professional help to build self-esteem in recovery. You should never think that you are all alone in your recovery journey. There are countless addiction treatment centers and mental health facilities around the country ready to help you build your self-esteem and overcome addiction once and for all. Don’t be afraid or ashamed to ask for help when it comes to leading a healthier life. 

Help Is Available 

Rebuilding self-esteem in recovery is critical so you can effectively progress on your path to sobriety. Although increasing self-worth in recovery won’t happen overnight, it is critical that you work daily to rebuild self-esteem. Failure to do so can put your mental health and sobriety at risk.

At Outpatient LA, we offer premier California outpatient drug and alcohol rehab programs to help patients safely and effectively progress on their recovery journey. Addiction can affect every aspect of your life for the worse. If you’re looking to regain control of your life, our compassionate team of addiction specialists is here to help. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help support your recovery journey.

Navigating Early Recovery: Tips for the First 30 Days

The road to addiction recovery can be filled with many ups and downs, especially in the first 30 days of recovery. Unfortunately, around 40-60% of people who receive substance use disorder treatment will relapse. That’s why it’s critical to set a strong foundation as you navigate early recovery so you can successfully maintain long-lasting sobriety. Keep reading to learn the top five tips you need to start your road to recovery on the right foot. 

Outpatient Los Angeles is a top-rated outpatient drug rehab in Los Angeles where patients can safely and effectively learn how to maintain long-term sobriety. We offer a comprehensive range of  Beverly Hills addiction treatment programs so you can receive the right care for your recovery needs. 

Contact us today to learn how we can help you lead a healthier, happier life.  

5 Tips for Navigating Early Recovery

Starting your road to recovery can be challenging; however, there are several things you can do in your first 30 days to help build a strong foundation in recovery. Below are 5 tips you can use to help set yourself up for success in early recovery. 

Seek Professional Support

First, you should never feel like you are all alone in your journey. It’s critical that you seek professional support when starting your recovery. This will ensure you safely detox as you overcome withdrawal symptoms. Plus, seeking professional support will allow you to learn and build healthy coping strategies you can use long-term to maintain your sobriety for the rest of your life. 

Build Healthy Coping Strategies

As discussed previously, building healthy coping strategies is essential. Healthy coping strategies will help reduce your risk of relapse. This is because rather than turning to drugs or alcohol to relieve feelings of stress, pain, or loneliness, you’ll be able to use these coping strategies to relieve negative feelings in a healthy manner. Some common examples of healthy coping strategies include walking, journaling, spending quality time with loved ones, and meditation. 

Set Boundaries and Avoid Old Triggers

Another fundamental tip you’ll want to master early on in your recovery journey is the importance of setting boundaries. You need to be comfortable saying no and setting and keeping firm boundaries to maintain your sobriety. Otherwise, a lack of clear boundaries will make it extremely difficult for you to say no to old triggers or cravings later on as you progress in your recovery journey. 

Practice Self-Care

Taking care of your mental and physical health and well-being is also important. It’s critical that you practice self-care early and often as you start your recovery journey. Similar to healthy coping strategies, self-care practices will give you the strength to carry on in your sobriety journey. Only you are responsible for maintaining your sobriety. Therefore, it’s critical you prioritize your mental and physical strength through eating a healthy diet, exercising, and getting quality sleep so you don’t fall victim to old unhealthy habits. 

Start to Rebuild Relationships with Loved Ones

The first 30 days of your recovery journey is also a great time to start rebuilding relationships with loved ones. Unfortunately, addiction can be very damaging to relationships. Therefore, it’s important you prioritize rebuilding these relationships in recovery. 

Although rebuilding relationships with friends and family members will take time, these relationships are important. Friends and family members can be some of your greatest supporters as you progress long-term into your recovery. If you are at a treatment center that offers family therapy, consider trying the program, as this can be a great starting point to start rebuilding these relationships with loved ones you may have hurt. 

Time to Start Your Sobriety Journey 

As you can see, it’s critical you set a strong foundation during your early recovery. Just because you overcome addiction doesn’t guarantee you’ll stay sober forever. Navigating early recovery is so important to set yourself up for success in maintaining lasting sobriety.

At Outpatient Los Angeles, we’re committed to helping people like you take back control of your life once and for all. Our California outpatient drug and alcohol rehab provides a range of outpatient treatment programs so you can receive the best possible care to support your recovery journey. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you navigate early recovery.

Staying Sober in Social Settings: Strategies for Success

Overcoming addiction is just the beginning of your road to recovery. Maintaining sobriety can sometimes be difficult, especially if you are exposed to old triggers in social settings that can bring up cravings to abuse drugs or alcohol. While avoiding social settings entirely is unrealistic, there are several strategies you can use for staying sober in social settings.

At Outpatient Los Angeles, we are a leading outpatient addiction treatment center in LA that’s here to help you safely lead a healthier, happier life of sobriety. With a range of addiction treatment options available, we’re here to help you break free of addiction for good. Contact us to start your road to recovery today!

5 Strategies to Help Maintain Your Sobriety in Social Settings

Just because you overcame addiction doesn’t mean you can’t fall victim to old triggers that can jeopardize your sobriety. Research finds that 40-60% of people treated for substance use disorders relapse. Below are several strategies you can use to maintain your sobriety. 

Create an Exit Plan

First, it’s important that you have a clear exit plan in place before going to a party or other social function. This will ensure that if you experience any triggers or old cravings to abuse drugs or alcohol, you can quickly leave the situation and avoid risking your sobriety. Setting a clear exit plan also ensures you aren’t stuck somewhere that puts your recovery at risk. For example, consider driving yourself to a party or social gathering rather than driving with a friend. Otherwise, if you want to leave, but your friend doesn’t, this can keep you longer in the social setting, which can be bad if you are experiencing old triggers or cravings. 

Bring Along an Accountability Friend

That being said, you don’t necessarily want to go in social settings alone, especially if you are attending a social setting like a party where you know alcohol will be there. Consider bringing along an accountability friend you can lean on for support and to keep you accountable during the event to avoid risking your sobriety. Your friend will not only serve as someone who can ensure you don’t fall back into old habits of drinking (or doing drugs), but they can also keep you company during the event!

Don’t Be Afraid to Say No

It’s important to set clear boundaries with yourself and others depending on the type of social setting you are going to. In other words, don’t be afraid to say no. For example, if you are at a party and someone offers you an alcoholic beverage, and you are a recovering alcoholic, decline the drink. You don’t need to explain yourself if you don’t want to; however, it’s crucial you say no to drinking alcohol if someone asks you because chances are they may not know that you are recovering from addiction. 

Pick the Right Social Settings

With that being said, consider which social settings and events you attend, and which events you decline. While being sober doesn’t mean you can’t attend any party or social function anymore, it does mean you should be more careful with what events you go to and, specifically, who will be at those events. For example, going to a party to celebrate a friend’s engagement is harmless. However, going to a party with old friends you used to abuse drugs with is not the type of social situation you should be putting yourself in, as this can easily jeopardize your sobriety. 

Consider Bringing Alcohol-Free Beverages to Parties 

Last but not least, if you want to attend a party where you know alcohol will be present but you don’t want to feel out of place with not drinking, consider bringing your own alcohol-free beverages or creating a mocktail. 

Top-Rated Outpatient Addiction Treatment in LA

Staying sober in social settings can be hard, especially if you don’t have the right strategies in place to set healthy boundaries and preserve your sobriety. However, the above strategies lay a solid framework so you can still enjoy certain events while staying sober in social settings. 

At Outpatient Los Angeles, our team of addiction and mental health professionals is here to guide you along your recovery journey. You should never feel too afraid to ask for help when it comes to leading a healthier, happier life. Contact us today to learn how we can best support your recovery journey.

Holistic Approaches to Managing Anxiety in Recovery

Anxiety is the most common mental disorder with millions of people around the world struggling with anxiety. Although many people battle anxiety every day, this doesn’t mean everyone benefits from the same treatment approaches. There are several holistic approaches to managing anxiety in recovery that can help complement your recovery journey. Keep reading to learn more about what holistic therapy is, and the different holistic approaches to managing anxiety in recovery you can try.

At Outpatient Los Angeles, we offer premier outpatient treatment in Los Angeles so you can receive the personalized treatment you need to support you on your recovery journey.  We provide a broad range of treatment options so you can receive the tailored care you need to best support your recovery needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you on your recovery journey. 

What Is Holistic Therapy?

Holistic therapy is an approach that looks at healing the mind, body, and spirit, or the “whole” person. Rather than focusing on just improving, for example, the mind through CBT, holistic therapy complements traditional treatments like CBT so you can receive the best possible care to effectively manage your mental illness symptoms. 

Because no two recovery journeys are ever the same, there are several different types of holistic therapies that can help you better manage your anxiety. Keep reading to learn 5 common holistic approaches to managing anxiety you can try on your own recovery journey. 

5 Holistic Approaches to Managing Anxiety in Recovery 

Whether you are looking for practical therapies to improve your anxiety symptoms or want to integrate them into your current treatment plan, below are several effective holistic approaches to managing anxiety in recovery. 

Breathwork

Breathwork and practicing various breathing exercises can be a great way to manage anxiety symptoms. Not only is breathwork practical, but it can be used anytime, anywhere when you are experiencing anxiety. Breathwork is also simple to do and can be done all on your own making it a practical yet highly effective way to calm anxiety symptoms. 

Yoga

Yoga is another holistic approach to managing anxiety in rehab that focuses on various movements, stretches, and breathing exercises. Yoga helps you not only feel more grounded and in the moment, but it can be a great physical activity to help relieve stress. Yoga typically requires very minimal equipment, if any, making it another practical and simple holistic approach that’s effective in calming anxiety symptoms. 

Meditation

Meditation is another highly effective holistic approach to managing anxiety that involves no equipment. Meditation helps ground your mind and can be especially helpful if you struggle with ruminating thoughts or overthinking. Plus, meditation can be done anywhere for any length of time, so whether you have 30 minutes or just 5 minutes to devote to meditating per day, this meditation can significantly help improve your anxiety symptoms over time. 

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy uses a focused concentration of mental imagery guided by a trained hypnotherapist to help you be more open and receptive to healthy behaviors and thoughts. Not only is hypnotherapy relaxing, but it can help guide you to calming thoughts and feel more relaxed, which is especially helpful if you struggling with anxiety. 

Nutrition

Nutrition is another holistic approach to managing anxiety in recovery that is all too often overlooked. Many people don’t realize how much food and what you consume can impact your mental well-being. For instance, consuming high amounts of alcohol or caffeine can significantly worsen your anxiety symptoms. Therefore, it’s important you prioritize having a healthy, well-balanced diet such as eating whole grains and plenty of fruits and vegetables. This will help not just improve your physical wellness, but your mental health and well-being. 

Leading Mental Health Care Center

Holistic approaches to managing anxiety in rehab can greatly help support your recovery journey. Whether you are struggling with mild or severe anxiety, holistic approaches are practical and versatile ways in which you can effectively manage your anxiety symptoms. You should never feel too afraid or ashamed to ask for help in leading a healthier life.

At Outpatient Los Angeles, we are committed to providing individualized support that best aligns with your unique recovery needs. We offer a comprehensive range of treatment options to ensure you receive the right care to lead a healthier, happier life. Contact us today to learn how you can begin your road to recovery.

The Role of Peer Support in Addiction Recovery

Peer support in addiction recovery can significantly help recovering addicts achieve sobriety. Oftentimes, while family and friends can be a positive support system, they lack understanding/the experience of going through addiction themselves. This is why peer support is so important as it offers you the ability to seek support and advice from someone who knows exactly what you’re going through. Keep reading to learn more about why peer support in recovery is important for your road to recovery. 

At Outpatient LA, we offer leading outpatient treatment in Los Angeles so you can receive top care to best support your recovery journey. We understand that no two recovery journeys are ever the same. That’s why we offer a comprehensive range of treatment services so you can receive the exact care you need to best support your recovery. 

Ready to start your road to recovery? Contact us today! 

Why Is Peer Support in Addiction Recovery Important?

The role of peer support in addiction recovery is important to help guide a recovering addict’s recovery journey. While close friends and family members can be a huge support system for recovering addicts, oftentimes loved ones may not fully understand what you are going through and therefore cannot provide helpful advice to maintain your sobriety. This is where a peer support group or mentor comes in.

Peer support in addiction recovery, whether it be a mentor who has overcome addiction or a peer support group, provides you with a safe space where you can feel supported and be held accountable for maintaining your sobriety. From giving you expert advice to maintain your sobriety to keeping you accountable along your recovery journey, keep reading to learn more about the many benefits of peer support during treatment. 

Benefits of Peer Support During Treatment

The role of peer support in addiction recovery is critical at virtually any stage of your recovery journey from overcoming addiction to maintaining long-term sobriety.  

Someone Who Understands What You’re Going Through

Peer support, whether through a mentor or support group, provides you with an individual(s) who understands what you’re going through. While friends and family members can offer support during your recovery journey, peer support from someone who has overcome addiction themselves is beneficial because they can give you advice based on their personal experiences. 

Feel You Are Not Alone In Your Fight Against Addiction

Although millions of people struggle with addiction, sometimes, addiction and addiction recovery can feel isolating, especially if you are the only person you know out of your friends or family who struggles with addiction. Therefore, peer support helps you feel less alone in your fight against addiction. 

Gain Helpful Advice to Guide Your Recovery Journey

Peer support also provides you with helpful advice from people who have overcome addiction themselves. These individuals can draw from their own experiences with addiction recovery to help guide you along your own road to recovery. 

Gain Hope and Inspiration That You Can Achieve Sobriety

You can also gain hope and inspiration by being able to look up to someone who has successfully overcome addiction and maintained long-term sobriety. Again, it’s very beneficial to have someone you can look up to as inspiration, especially if you don’t have anyone else in your immediate circle who has overcome addiction themselves. 

Keep You Accountable On Your Recovery Journey

Last but not least, the role of peer support in addiction recovery is to keep you accountable on your road to sobriety. Your addiction recovery journey will inevitably have many ups and downs. Having a mentor or support group ensures you are progressing along your road to recovery and not falling back into old unhealthy habits, relationships, or situations that can potentially jeopardize your recovery journey. 

Help Is Available 

Peer support in addiction recovery is highly effective in helping recovering addicts break free of addiction for good. Individuals who have overcome addiction themselves know what it’s like to struggle with the ups and downs of sobriety. Therefore, they can better relate to and support recovering addicts because they have the personal experience to support others along their recovery journey. 

Outpatient Los Angeles is a premier drug rehab that’s helped many safely and effectively achieve long-term sobriety. You should never feel too afraid or ashamed to ask for help in overcoming addiction. Contact us today to learn more about how you can regain control over your life for the better.

The Role of Therapy in Addiction Treatment

Therapy is effective in better managing mental illness symptoms. However, therapy in addiction treatment is also critical to help recovering individuals safely overcome addiction and maintain long-term sobriety. Addiction therapy plays several different roles in helping individuals effectively break free of addiction. Keep reading to learn more about the role of therapy in addiction treatment.

At Outpatient Los Angeles, we are a leading outpatient addiction treatment center that uses an individualized approach to help patients break free of addiction. We understand how debilitating addiction can be. Using a range of addiction treatments, our team is here to help you every step of the way so you can lead a healthier, happier life. Contact us today to start your road to recovery.   

Why Therapy in Addiction Treatment Is Important?

Addiction treatment is not just for safely detoxing and overcoming your addiction. Addiction treatment involves a wide variety of therapy approaches that can help you establish a healthier, happier life after treatment. Maintaining sobriety can be filled with many ups and downs; however, therapy in addiction treatment teaches you critical coping strategies and skills to help you maintain long-term sobriety. Below are several factors that explain the role of therapy in addiction treatment. 

Develop Coping Strategies to Maintain Your Sobriety

As briefly discussed above, therapy in addiction treatment helps individuals develop healthy coping strategies to maintain their sobriety long-term. Just because you detox and overcome your addiction doesn’t mean you’ll not experience old triggers and cravings to relapse. About 40-60% of recovering addicts relapse after receiving substance use disorder treatment. Therefore, addiction treatment therapies, both traditional and holistic, teach you healthy strategies to recognize triggers and reduce your risk of relapsing. 

Better Understand the Root Causes Of Your Addiction

While there aren’t sometimes clear causes to explain addiction or why someone has a more addictive tendency, therapy allows individuals time to better understand how or why they fell victim to addiction. And, as a result, work on those root causes to prevent them from relapsing. For example, if an individual was abusing drugs or alcohol to help relieve mental illness symptoms, that individual should seek mental health treatment to better manage those symptoms so they don’t fall back into abusing drugs to relieve their mental disorder symptoms. 

Develop Healthy Habits to Lead a Healthier Life

Therapy in addiction treatment can also consist of a range of holistic therapies like art therapy, music therapy, or outdoor-based therapies. Holistic therapies are not only helpful for progressing along your recovery journey but they can also be used when you transition back into your normal everyday life to help maintain your sobriety while practicing healthy habits. 

Rebuild Your Confidence and Sense of Identity

Therapy in addiction treatment also helps you rebuild your self-confidence and sense of identity that may have been fractured due to your addiction. Therapy gives you the ability to reflect on who you are and who you want to be once you become sober. Also, therapy gives you time to forgive yourself and apologize to others for your past, which gives you room to forge a new identity and better life for yourself and your loved ones as you progress on your road to recovery. 

Help Rebuild Relationships with Loved Ones

Finally, the role of therapy in addiction treatment is to also help rebuild relationships with loved ones that may have been fractured because of your addiction. Many addiction treatment centers have family therapy options where you can work towards meeting with your family and close friends and rebuilding those relationships. This is also critical in your sobriety journey as you can then lean on your loved ones for support as you progress along your road to recovery. 

Premier Los Angeles Addiction Treatment Center

Therapy in addiction treatment plays an important role in helping patients not just overcome addiction, but learn healthy coping strategies to achieve long-term sobriety. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, it’s critical you seek professional addiction treatment to help you achieve sobriety. 

Our team at Outpatient Los Angeles is here to help you every step of the way so you can take back control of your life. You should never feel too afraid to ask for help when it comes to leading a healthier life. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you regain control of your life.